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I always take the bird as the dog comes in on the first initial test on a new dog but after that they are expected to heel and sit and is just my preferance but you can take the bird when then come in in any jr tests.
Clay

The dog does not have to come to heel. Don't know about squatting down but you can lean over and grab (or catch in the air if dog starts to drop it) the bird as soon as the dog is back on the line. Don't drop it in the middle of catching it like I did, if the dog won't pick it back up you are SOL. My dog didn't have enough real bird experience.

It sure looks better if they truly deliver to hand (and heel), and you may be the butt of some jokes if you have to do the junior bird dive like me!

Do not run any tests, either UKC, AKC or NAHRA until your dog is coming to heel and delivering to hand! You are just wasting your time in the long run. Don't run any entry level tests until your dog is ready to run the next level. Of course if your only goal is a JH, SHR than go for it. JD

One cannot reason someone out of something they were not reasoned into. - Jonathan Swift

Yeah, no one here who has ever trained a dog has had a dog do unexpected things at a test. Train with a high standard but expect and be prepared for the unexpected. It's a good idea to train with some nasty, waterlogged ducks as ducks at tests look like three miles of bad road pretty quickly. Many a young dog has gotten to the water only to drop the first waterlogged bird at the shore and leave it there. Don't be caught napping if your dog's grip starts looking tentative. Be ready to take the birds. The only rule is that the dog must deliver to hand.

"When a good trainer stops learning about dogs, he stops being a good trainer." the late Gene Hill

"If you want to find out what kind of trainer you are, leave your transmitter in the truck." the late Rex Carr